Jeremy went back to Jerlina’s room. He decided to stay in the hallway to make sure no one tries anything funny.

When he got there, he couldn’t help but sneak a peek through the glass and during the small timeframe when the wind blew the curtains away, he had a glance of Jerlina deeply asleep on the bed.

He placed his hand on the door and before he knew it, he had opened the door and entered in. He looked around and realised Daisy was not in the room.

He placed his hand on his heart as he felt his heartbeat racing realising he is alone with her in the room. He took in a deep breath with a smile.

The past few days when she was with him, he is always feeling this way. He has stared death in the eye and escaped from its jaws a handful of times. But even then his heart didn’t race like this.

Only when I am with her…

The lighting was dim and she was lying on her back on the bed. Her IV was still running but the monitors that were connected to her were removed. Her shoulder-length blonde hair sprawled on the pillow and a bunch of her fringes fell on her forehead and danced to the tune of the wind.

Her face that used to look clean and bright looked pale and tired. Her usually cherry-pink lips now looked pale and her eyes looked puffy.

He wanted to go sit by her side and gently caress her hair and place a kiss on her forehead. But he knew she won’t like it.

I made her end up like this! If only I were a little more careful!

Standing two feet away from her, he fisted and released his hands to compose himself.

How did we get here?

He couldn’t understand anything. She escaped using her car he kept in his garage. He kept the keys in his locker that needs a ten digit pass code to open. There is no way she’d have gotten it herself.

Was someone else there? Was it Moses’ people? But they’d have killed her than letting her escape. I should check the cameras.

And the airbags too…

He knelt beside her and rested his chin on the bed and watched her sleep. Her chest was rising and falling at regular intervals. He recalled everything that happened that day. He remembered they way she recoiled when he tried to help her wear the seatbelt.

Why are you this scared of me, Jerlina..? I would never hurt even the tip of your hair… Why didn’t you tell me that you were pregnant? Was it because you were scared of me?

He remembered when she was in his cabin, she never skipped a meal. She won’t answer him, but she’d eat everything he gave her as long as it was a takeout delivered at the doorstep. He saw her once with her face pale, throwing up in the toilet. She said it was food-poisoning, but it was morning sickness, wasn’t it?

Ah, if I were a little more attentive, I’d have realised it! I’m sorry…

His hand reached out to her forehead unconsciously and he folded his fingers back with great difficulty. His fingers trembled and his heart itched to give her a hug as he recalled the times he noticed her sobbing silently lying in the bed.

I’m sorry… I’m sorry…

His eyes filled with tears and he bent closer to her face. She was so deeply asleep and she looked at peace. Her warm breath fell on him as she exhaled and he closed his eyes willing himself to not touch her.

But his hand had a mind of its own and a bunch of her hair that was sprawled on the pillow was held in between his thumb and index finger.

It’s soft.

Before he knew it, he was bending down kissing the tip of her hair.

I love you, Jerlina… My heart pounds thinking of you… You don’t have to love me back. But can you not be scared of me? It hurts me to see you this scared of me.

He heard a flushing noise from the in-suite bathroom and he knew it must be Daisy. He stood up immediately and turned to leave. The corners of his eyes felt cold and he rubbed it with the back of his index finger. Seeing the wetness on his finger, a dry snort escaped him.

I’m crying… You’re crying… What should we do?

I never should’ve seen you back in that store. Then maybe I wouldn’t have tried to have a glance at you afterwards; I wouldn’t have found out you’re marked by The Flying Snakes; I wouldn’t have butted in to protect you; I wouldn’t have accidentally killed your child…

No! Then you’d be dead by now…

That day, Emma asked him to go shopping with her. Rather than her usual branded store, he was surprised when she brought him to some high street fashion store. It was that day he saw Jerlina after a long time. All the emotions he had locked for almost ten years burst out and he couldn’t control himself anymore.

And now… She is there on the bed and he is here at the door… Both of them are crying.

He carefully closed the door without making a noise.

“Jeremy…”

He almost punched the person as he was startled, but then stopped himself as he realised it was his mom.

“Mom!” he tried to give a smile but was interrupted.

“We need to talk. Come to my office.”

She didn’t expect his reply and walked away. Jeremy could only follow her even if he didn’t want to.